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Groups featuring the former Paralympian have raised alarms that those with mobility challenges could be left out from the shift to electric vehicles due to charging stations that aren't accessible.

Rising Numbers However Barriers Remain

The count of public charging stations in Britain is growing quickly, with around 17,400 deployed in the year to July. Nevertheless, the absence of regulations means those with disabilities frequently cannot rely on they will be able to use them.

Frequent barriers involve raised kerbs, gravel surfaces, touchscreens positioned too high, or charging cords that are weighty.

Legislative Action

Just this week, the upper chamber voted for an addition to the planning and development law that would grant authority to impose inclusive design rules on public EV chargers.

Baroness Grey-Thompson, who won 11 gold medals across five Paralympics, now serves as a non-aligned lord in the Lords. She regularly highlights failures in accessible transport, such as a previous situation where she was needed to exit a train on her hands and knees due to no available help.

"Those with access needs have been completely forgotten about," she stated. "I've tried to change to an electric vehicle more than once. It has been really hard going."

Sector and Campaigner Perspectives

An EV association leader, noted, "There is a present danger countless motorists missing out from the EV shift. Nearly half of EV owners are struggling with using public EV stations."

She urged the authorities to issue new inclusive design rules and to assume necessary authority to mandate that standard.

Research commissioned by the non-profit organization shows the United Kingdom has as many as 1.35 million drivers with access needs, including 390,000 probably lacking home-based EV charging.

Regulations and Forward View

Currently, a mere 2.3% of charging points meet the criteria established by the national standards body. Efforts to make its PAS 1899 guideline more feasible have halted.

Jamie Borwick, who tabled the amendment, cautioned that deploying inaccessible points now would create long-term issues and limit choices for those with disabilities when conventional fuel cars are no longer sold post-2035.

"We are likely to see a significant quantity of charging points that aren't accessible," he noted. "It is essential to design for inclusive use from the start."

The chief executive of the Motability Foundation asserted that accessibility requirements should be become compulsory. "It is essential that all EV station companies assume responsibility for making sure that their infrastructure is inclusive."

The chief executive of ChargeUK commented, "No drivers should be overlooked in the EV shift, and this encompasses drivers with accessibility needs."

Government Response

A transport department representative said, "We are determined to ensuring disabled drivers can conveniently recharge their electric vehicles, which is why we requested a study into accessibility standards for charge points."

"The study has finished, and its conclusions will be made public in the near future. We remain engaged with businesses on how we can enhance charger availability for disabled drivers."